AFYMP TRAINS OOU CAMPUS JOURNALISTS

 

By Toluwalase Oderinde

 

The Africa Foundation for Young Media Professionals (AFYMP) organised a training session for campus journalists at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) on Saturday, February 24th, 2024.

 

The training began at 10 am at the mini-campus with the theme “Reporting for Impact,” aiming to provide early-career journalists with the necessary skills to make a difference in the media space. 

 

Renowned media career expert, Mr. Yinka Olaito served as the facilitator of the training session, who shared valuable insights and wisdom with the participants. Olaito emphasized the importance of prioritizing the story over personal recognition. He said “It’s better to write the story than to be the story.” 

He encouraged the young journalists to focus on creating impactful content that resonates with audiences, rather than simply seeking bylines to be popular.

 

Olaito stressed the significance of understanding the legal aspects that govern journalism, reminding the attendees, “Know the laws that guide stories in journalism.” He also highlighted the essential role of data and research in storytelling, advising, “Telling a story requires data and research. To enhance it, turn the data into infographics.”

In an interview with Testimony Yusuf, an attendee of the AFYMP training said “I really appreciate the training which was a valuable learning experience, and Mr. Olaito’s insights on ‘Reporting for Impact’ were eye-opening. I learnt about us creating our own ideas and also about professional ethics.” 

 

Oyebode John shared his view of the training “The training by AFYMP was engaging and informative. I was particularly impressed by Mr. Olaito’s knowledge of how to craft effective news stories to make an impact.  I’m willing to apply what I’ve learned to my work.”

 

According to Subomi Sangonuga, “The training was a truly unique experience. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable about ‘Reporting for Impact,’ but he also shared personal experience from his own career as a journalist. It was fascinating to hear about his experiences and how they shape or impact society. I think his use of relatable examples really helped bring the concepts to life and made the training even more impactful.”